A Forgotten Realm

Chapter 2 - The Fog

Bewildered I momentarily froze in fear “was that to me” I thought. Surely not how could they know I’m here I’ve been as quiet as a mouse.. “come on dear I know you’re in the trees and you can hear me no need to fear” the voice boomed again and my legs shakily moved between the trees and into the dim lights hovering above the temples gates.

“M-me?” I croaked out followed up with a “w-what ceremony?”

The man who was dressed in all black with gold lining grinned softly and said “you’ll see, it’s the best thing one can experience in life come on in.

The gates opened and the crowed followed the man inside with me wearily following behind.

Inside there was beautiful tapestries of Jade and Gold hung upon black stone walls so intricately designed it looked like the gods themselves built them. The burning cold I felt was replaced with a feeling of warmth and a small bowl centered in the room filled with flames flickering lightly across the glistening golds of the temple.

Looking around everyone seemed at peace causing me to relax a bit.

“Hello all and welcome to the Ceremony of Dragons I am Exchiel and I am excited for you all to be here” the man from before rang out from the back of the room. “Dragons?” I said confused. I knew of the old stories of dragons from my father but I always thought it to be a fairytale. He often told me they were real but lost to our world thousands or years ago which I found to be quite an interesting but fake story none the less.

“Yes dear child, this is the ceremony of dragons to test each person for the spirit of dragon and heart of gold to reunite the King of dragons with his lost wife and restore the balance allowing dragons and humans to enter each others worlds. Years ago the former kings wife took ill and died causing a veil to overshadow the plains that allowed such travel and his son the new king cannot reopen the veil without his fated wife. Only the gods can choose one worthy to wear the crown.”

In shock I nodded my head thinking maybe this was some kind of joke or they were all nuts but one by one the women gathered went to the fire and recited some words given to them on a stone tablet and dropped a lock of their hair into the fire. As they did so each time the fire would glow blue and the girls would bow their heads and step away.

When none were left but me the man named Exchiel ushered me forward and handed me the tablet.

Nervously, I chuckled.

“Go on dear this is held every year and we will never give up on finding the true dragon queen”

Me? There’s no way I’d ever be anything close to royalty.

Sure my father was a nobleman and I an heiress to his estate but he was gone and I’m sure whoever took his life wanted the estate and his title.

Looking around the room I saw everyone waiting excitedly and thought there was nothing left for me here so I guess I could indulge this silly game they were playing and began to read the stone. As the words flowed from my mouth the fire grew brighter and as I reached the end Exchiel gripped a small piece of my hair cutting it and extending his hand for me to grab it.

Placing my fingers around the lock of my hair I saw the look of hope filling his eyes which in return filled me with fear. Fear of letting someone I’d only just met down.

Taking a long deep breath I released my grasp on the lock of curls flowing through my fingers and watched as the flames engulfed it turning a vibrant green. Pain shot through my body like an unending fire and cheers exploded through the room followed by a rushed movement away from me as I began to scream and wry the in pain dropping to the floor.

“BACK EVERYONE GIVE THE QUEEN SPACE” Exchiel roared out so deep and guttural you’d think it was a beast booming through the temple.

My eyes blurred and my head filled with A fog so heavy I felt I’d never escape. “What’s wrong with me?” I choked out as sounds of cracking whipped through the room followed by more bellows of pain.

“You.. you are the Dragon Queen we’ve longed so long for” an unknown voice cried out.

And with that, all went dark the fog swallowing me into a deep sleep.